Fabric samples and food

March was a very busy month and April is speeding by just as fast. I went to went to the Stitch & Craft Show in Olympia 2 I was very good and don't buy much (only 5 balls of yarn must be a record for me and a new crimping tool for my stitch marker making), well the reason I was good (sort of) was I bought a Boye interchangeable thread hook set with a hand carved Maple burl handle by the brilliant Jimbo the day before I went to the show I will photograph and post the set when it arrives.

I had also ordered more samples of the fabric prints I have been working on, they arrived this week and I was happy with most of them (some I need to adjust the colours) sorry I know a few people emailed about the 'here come the bees' and ladybird ladybird' prints I the 'butterfly dance' is OK) they were the ones I need to adjust. The ones I was happy with are now available on spoonflower. I am ordering larger pieces to make some cushions and bags to hold yarn (trying to be tidy) The owls will be sewn together to make lavender bags for the wardrobe (and put them in with the yarn) I will post the results and how they were made when I have got the larger pieces of fabric.

I have also had the cooking bug and made a few tasties for the family and even managed to add the recipes to the other blog.

I did manage to fit in some, knitting and crochet time  playing with tape yarn (again a future post when I have played more). I added a new filet chart to the main NezumiWorld.com site- decorated Easter eggs and have been very busy planning things for the coming months including more new filet charts, a line of stitch markers for crocheters and knitters plus getting things ready for some Crochet/ Knit-A-Longs even some Design-A-Longs but I post more about that when things are in place.

Bargain Hunter

I confess when I am in the supermarket I go to the reduced price section, I have limited funds so try to make them go further, plus I like tasty foods. A couple of days ago they had one of my favourite vegetables reduced - beetroot. My preferred method of cooking is to bake them. Its very simple with little effect- try not to damage the skin the juice will bleed out its also something to look for when buying that the skin is un-damaged. Gently rinse and trim off the stalks, wrap individually in squares of cooking foil sealing all edges (again you don't want beet juice everywhere), place on a baking tray. Cook in the oven for approximately 1 hour at 180C/ 356F /gas mark 4 the skin should peel easily when cooked. Unwrap and peel, some wear gloves for this as usual I forgot I now have red hands!. You could use the beetroot skins for dyeing yarn it produces beautiful shade of red to pink.
You can now use your cooked beetroot in soups, salads, even chocolate cake. I just sliced mine up and added a splash of vinegar with some chili flakes.
Talking of beetroot I was looking yesterday in Selfridges for the new baked and delicious magazine (which have not been able to find anywhere) and Petit Pois Cakes where launching their new healthy cupcake range which has half the calories and fat of ‘normal’ high-street cakes they are gluten and lactose free. They replace the butter with vegetables using grated pumpkin, courgette or beetroot.

Spoonflower Fabric

Got my sample print back from spoonflower.com I am really happy with the results, the colours have come out just as I hoped and I like the feel of the fabric (it is soft you cannot feel the dyes) I also ordered a colour guide and fabric samples. I plan to make some project bags with the fabric and cushion covers. I have ordered some more samples and larger lengths of fabric and will be adding extra designs soon.
If you have never visited the site take a trip there, they have so many great fabric prints to choose from and ideas of items to make. If you like designing they have weekly competitions to enter (I just entered the "Leprechauns Fabric Contest") If you prefer looking you can vote in the competitions and don't even need to sign up to do so.

46th Wedding Anniversary

A quick post for family and friends, my parents celebrated their 46th Wedding Anniversary this weekend. Mom had a very good day, she even walked with a little help and sat in a normal chair.










Celebrating with some cake and tea : )

Arts and Crafts in the Community

I recently did a couple of taster sessions (a knitting & crochet session and a colourful felting session) for BACES with Workshop24.

Workshop24 is a wonderful project from the empty shops network it is using an empty shop as a temporary, flexible and informal space. Running a variety of projects for people in the area to take part in for free. Its so good to see something the community can take part in and get people in the area together.

In January the knitting course (at the college) had a visit by a poet Niall O’Sullivan from the southkilburnspeaks project who are also using the shop at workshop24.

He chatted to the students while they knit and crocheted about their memories of the area old and new. We all discovered lots of information about the area. He developed a poem based on this visit "Adult Education"

 

Spoonflower - Rabbits and Carrots

Another one of my New Years Resolution's was to finally put some of my textiles designs onto Spoonflower (a fabric-on-demand printing service) Spoonflower prints using eco-friendly, water-based pigment inks on natural fiber textiles. No additional chemicals are used in the printing or preparation process. You can keep your designs private or make them available for sale (after ordering a test swatch to make sure the colours/ design are OK) There are lots of great designs, fabrics and ideas on their site it worth a visit.
I entered my Rabbit and Carrots print into there weekly contest (eek this weeks theme is "Year of the Rabbit") I read on their blog there are close to 250 bunny fabrics entered. I have ordered a test swatch for my rabbit print can't wait to see how it prints and feels.

I also added a filet crochet inspired heart print called "Little Hearts", it matches a large filet chart for a large cushion or small throw I designed last year, except this repeat pattern is really small and cute.

Valentine's is in the air

I have been busy designing both knitting & crochet patterns this month (one of my new years resolutions to finish and publish the patterns, I am trying to stick to some resolutions this year) plus I have been working on some textile prints (the textile prints are still in the early stages I'll post more as they develop)

I have had a little time to play also and with valentines coming I though I'd play with making some heart pompoms using a heart pompom maker (if its a gadget I have to buy it.......) to go with some little crocheted 3D hearts & larger roses (for a necklace) I am making. Can not say my heart pompom turned out very heart shaped but that's easily solved with a scissors I'll post the finished results soon.

Keeping with the valentines theme I have also added a new chart (can also be used for any square related craft) to the Nezumiworld main site it's a filet heart bookmark make with a thin cotton thread for a bookmark or a chunky yarn for a scarf.